Long journey and big petrol bill pays off as Fanning bags a double

While most of Britain was wearily hammering the snooze button on the alarm clock after the bank holiday weekend, Joe Fanning was in his car on the A1. And he had been for some time.

Fanning has not had many rides at Brighton in recent years, but there's a good reason for that: he lives more than 300 miles away in Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Still, such a journey didn't deter him from making an early start to take up four rides, and he was well rewarded for his endeavour, registering a 15-2 double through Starlight Mystery in the 5½f novice auction stakes and Cosmopolitan Girl in the 5½f handicap.